During 1999, approximately 100 ostrich farms were established in Egypt. By the end of the year, the total number of this type of farms hit 120. The hefty profits investors reaped from ostrich and household bird breeding convinced many entrepreneurs to enter this lucrative field, al Quds al Arabi daily reported.
Some of the newcomers to the ostrich branch arrived after experiencing losses in the poultry and goose industry. According to a local ostrich farmer, the meat quantity delivered last year increased by 300 percent compared to 1998. Most of the Egyptian clients of this type of meat are hotels and other tourist facilities.
One kilogram of ostrich meat in Egypt sells for EP80 ($24). From each ostrich, 40 kilograms of meat can be obtained. Additionally, Egyptian ostrich farmers have started to export live ostriches to other Arab states, mainly Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sudan. It should be noted that beyond the consumption of their meat, ostrich fat is used in the cosmetics industry, as well as oils to ease the suffering of arthritic patients.
The largest ostrich farm to be established in the region was recently inaugurated in Sudan. It was built with an investment of $3 million. The export price of a Sudanese ostrich amounts to $160.
– albawaba.com
